LOGINAxelI was working on my laptop when a knock suddenly echoed through my office."Come in."The door opened, and Derek stepped inside."Sir, I just received a call from one of the security men at the hospital. They called to inform me that Mr. Pierce regained consciousness a little while ago."I paused.Jasmine's father had finally woken up from a coma.I slowly closed the laptop before looking directly at Derek."Has my wife gone to see him?""The guards haven't seen Mrs. Reynolds arrive yet."I frowned. That was unusual. Unless she hadn't been informed yet...Without wasting another second, I reached for my phone on the desk and unlocked it. My thumb hovered over Jasmine's contact, and just as I was about to press the call button... I suddenly stopped.The investigation report...The report the officers had handed over a few days after Carl had been injured inside his apartment resurfaced vividly in my mind.Every detail came flooding back: the inconsistencies, the unanswered questio
Aaron"What have you done, Mother?!" I roared, my voice echoing through the parking lot. "How could you let Vincent deceive you like that?"Mother recoiled like my words had struck her. Her lips trembled, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks."I... I did it for your own good, Aaron...""I don't want to hear it!" I cut her off sharply. "You should have fucking held back! Vincent would have caved eventually! He always does! Just like every other time!"She shook her head frantically."No... no, Aaron. Your father was serious this time."Her voice cracked as she wiped at her tears."If I hadn't begged him... if I hadn't begged over and over again... if I hadn't agreed to all the conditions he gave me..." She swallowed painfully. "He was really going to let you rot in prison."I froze.Conditions?My heart skipped."...Conditions?" I repeated slowly.Not condition...Conditions... plural.My eyes narrowed immediately."What other conditions?"Mother's breathing grew uneven. She lowered
Aaron"Aaron Reynolds?"The officer looked up from the paperwork in his hand before meeting my eyes through the metal bars."Your bail has been processed, and the complainant has withdrawn the charges that were keeping you in custody. You're being released. Gather your belongings."For a second, I simply stared at him.Released?A slow smile crept onto my face.I had known it.I knew this wouldn't last.No matter how angry Vincent acted, there was no way he would truly leave his own son to rot inside a cell. He had probably realized that arresting me had only made him look ridiculous. After all, what kind of father threw his own son behind bars?He had finally come to his senses.The officer unlocked the cell, and I stepped out without saying a word.Another officer led me to the property desk.My wallet, phone, wristwatch... Each item was placed in front of me one after another.I silently checked everything before fastening my expensive wristwatch back around my wrist. The familiar
Vincent"I really had a nice time."Those simple words were enough to make my entire evening.A proud smile spread across my face as I kept one hand on the steering wheel while reaching across the center console with the other. Gently, I took Collette's hand into mine and lifted it to my lips, pressing a lingering kiss against her knuckles."I'm glad you enjoyed it."Every detail of tonight had been carefully planned because I wanted to give her one evening without worry, hurt, or reminders of everything I had destroyed.For the first time in a very long while, I had seen her smile... a genuine, happy smile, and that alone made everything worth it.I tightened my fingers around hers just a little."Collette, I know I messed up in the past," I admitted quietly. "I know I still have a lot to do to make up for my mistakes. Maybe I can never completely erase the pain I caused you... but I'm grateful you're giving me the chance to try."I glanced at her briefly before returning my attentio
JasmineMy eyes flew open in surprise."Axel?"The name barely left my lips before he kissed me again.It wasn't like him.Usually, his kisses were gentle, slow, and full of warmth. This one was different. Fierce. Desperate. Almost frantic.Without saying a word, he lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing, his lips grinding against mine with an intensity that completely overwhelmed my senses as he carried me to the bed.I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. The sheer dominance of his touch sent a whirlwind of confusion and heat coursing through my veins.The moment he laid me down and finally broke the kiss, I gasped for air, my chest rising and falling rapidly as I tried to steady my breathing.Before I could speak, Axel pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it carelessly onto the floor.Only then did I get a clear look at his face.My chest tightened.The warmth that usually filled his eyes was gone. His face was blank, almost lifeless, and shadows seemed to settle beneat
Jasmine"Next week is the charity ball," Collette said as she set her teacup down on the table. "You'll need to start preparing because you'll be attending with me."I blinked in surprise, staring at her.She smiled faintly before adding, "Katherine had to travel unexpectedly, so she won't be available. Since she's away, I'd like you to accompany me instead."For a brief second, my mind went completely blank.Then she paused, her warm eyes studying my face."But..." she said gently, "if you don't feel up to it, you don't have to force yourself. Your father is still in the hospital, and I know everything that's happened hasn't been easy. If you'd rather stay home, I completely understand."I clenched my fists tightly at my sides, using every ounce of self-control I had to stop myself from screaming in excitement.Oh my goodness… Was this really happening? It felt like a dream.Never—not even once—had I imagined the day would come when Collette would personally invite me to accompany her
AxelHe chose him.Not me… again.The boardroom erupted, but it felt distant—muted, like I was underwater.Mr. Greg stood up, beaming excitedly as though Christmas had come early.“Gentlemen,” he announced brightly, clasping his hands together, “the results are clear. The voting has been conducted
AxelI had lost count of how many times I had walked from one end of my office to the other.The day was finally here.The day the final decision would be made.The day I would know exactly where I stood in the Reynolds Group.My stomach tightened at the thought.Years of work. Years of sacrifice.
OliviaThe sound of my phone ringing woke me up from sleep.I groaned softly, burrowing deeper into the pillows for half a second before the ringing grew more insistent.I cracked one eye open and instinctively reached out to the bedside table where my phone was to check who it was.Jasmine?I frow
OliviaI instantly reacted on instinct and pulled the phone away from my ear so quickly it almost slipped from my fingers. My heart lurched violently in my chest as I shoved the phone behind my back, my palm pressing it flat against my lower back.“No… no one,” I said too quickly, shaking my head.







